Abutilon theophrasti medic. Episperms as a total flavonoids fraction for pharmaceutical applications: In vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activities, extraction technology and HPLC-MS profiles

Abstract Abutilon theophrasti Medic. is widely distributed around the world, and the episperms part is rich in phenols and flavonoids compounds. The current study focused on the extraction technology, components analysis, in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of total flavonoids from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. episperms. The extraction process of total flavonoids fraction was optimized by response surface method, and the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated with the assay of radical scavenging activity and reducing power, micro-dilution broth method, and lipopolysaccharide induced mouse mononuclear macrophage leukemia cells RAW 264.7 model, respectively. The maximum extraction yield was achieved with concentration of ethanol solution 10%, ratio of solvent to material 30:1 ml/g, and ultrasonic extraction time 29.52 min. Moreover, seven compositions from total flavonoids fraction were detected separately, and four compounds were identified by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray ionization-mass spectra n . In addition, total flavonoids fraction from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. episperms exhibited a better antioxidant activity demonstrated by ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, 2, 2′ - azino - bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline -6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt, and 2, 2 -diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl radicals scavenging ability, and antibacterial against Escherichia coli , Salmonella , Staphyloccocus aureus , and Streptococcus , and anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide induced RAW 264.7 cells. In a word, the present findings suggest that the total flavonoids fraction from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. episperms was a very interesting candidate for the research and development of natural and healthy antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory agent for food, pharmaceutical, and medicine industries.